Middlesbrough FC can find Ryan Giles 2.0 in the MLS - Rob Edwards needs it badly | OneFootball

Boro have made an approach for the MLS star who could finally be the solution to Middlesbrough's Ryan Giles replacement search.

Middlesbrough have been searching for Ryan Giles' successor for the last two years, and they may have finally found him.

The winds of change are blowing strong on Teesside this summer.

Former head coach Michael Carrick and club captain Jonny Howson have both departed the Riverside Stadium, with Rob Edwards now tasked with leading Boro into the future.

This dugout change has brought with it a new tactical philosophy, as Edwards looks to largely do away with Carrick's slow build-up, possession-based approach, in favour of a faster, high-intensity and action-creating system.

Middlesbrough haven't yet replaced Ryan Giles' attacking output from 2022/23

One player who thrived on Teesside when handed the freedom to get forward from his defensive position to make use of his attacking talent was Ryan Giles.

Joining on a season-long loan deal from Wolves in the summer of 2022, Giles arrived at the Riverside having already showcased his ability to create chances and provide goals at Championship level.

Indeed, the full-back had enjoyed two fruitful loan spells in the second tier the season before, providing nine assists in 21 league outings for Cardiff City in the first half of the 21/22 campaign, before impressing with Blackburn Rovers during the second half of that term.

For many Teessiders, 22/23 was a season unlike anything they'd seen from their team in a very long time, and Giles was an essential part of it.

Following Chris Wilder's sacking in October and the subsequent appointment of Carrick, Boro transformed themselves from relegation candidates to Premier League promotion contenders, all the while playing some of the most exciting and attacking football many Riverside regulars had ever seen.

Norwich and Reading were hit for five, Wigan hit for four twice and many other sides hit for three; Middlesbrough were on a Championship tear, and Giles' wand of a left foot created countless pieces of Middlesbrough magic.

Chuba Akpom owed so much of his 28-goal golden boot-winning season to the service he received from Giles on the left flank, as Boro's loanee finished the season with a league-leading 11 assists from left-back.

Since then, Giles has spent time with Luton Town and Hull City, before making his return to Teesside in January of this year, signing a short-term loan deal with Boro for the remainder of the 24/25 season.

However, it wasn't the fairytale story he nor Middlesbrough supporters were hoping for, as he looked a shell of his former self, and failed to provide a single goal or assist in 12 Championship outings.

Boro tried to find his replacement in the immediate transfer windows that followed after his unforgettable 22/23 campaign in the North East, with the likes of Lukas Engel, Luke Thomas, Alex Bangura, Neto Borges and Samuel Iling-Junior all signing for the club.

However, none of them were able to provide the level of attacking output and threat that Giles did from the left, and as such, Middlesbrough are still searching for his successor in that regard.

Middlesbrough may have Giles 2.0 in Columbus Crew's Max Arfsten

That search could be about to find its conclusion, however.

According to a report from our sister site GiveMeSport, Middlesbrough are understood to have tabled a $3m/£2.25m bid for Columbus Crew left wing-back, Max Arfsten, in what would be a move that would see him reunited with his former crewmate, Aidan Morris.

The 24-year-old has established himself as one of the standout players stateside, as he was honoured with his first MLS All-Star designation this year.

Arfsten has now cemented himself as a US international too, and is recognised as being one of the best players in his position in the MLS, playing an essential role high up the pitch in Crew's side.

Left-footed like Giles, the California-born wing-back possesses excellent technical and dribbling ability, who thrives on getting forward and making runs into the penalty area in order to score and create goals.

He's not just someone opposition teams have to account for in attack either, as his numbers for recoveries, duels won and tackles won respectively, are all among the best of players in his position in the MLS.

As such, he could be a superb addition and perfect fit at left wing-back in Edwards' system, and the Boro boss desperately needs help in this department too.

Having signed Callum Brittain, Boro have shored up the right side of their defence, but with just an injured Alex Bangura, Sammy Silvera - who is a winger by trade - and Neto Borges - a player who has played his best football on Teesside in central defence - as his only options in that area, this looks like the glaring weak spot of Boro's backline.

Therefore, getting a deal done for Arfsten should be a top priority for Middlesbrough as we enter the final weeks of the summer transfer window, and could place one of the final pieces in the puzzle that can see Boro return to genuine promotion contention next season.